Only 3% of registered motor vehicles in Florida are motorcycles, but motorcycle fatalities represented 17% of all crash fatalities in Florida in the years between 2015 and 2020.
Motorcycle accidents tend to lead to serious injuries such as:
- Broken bones
- Head and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
Not only do these injuries require immediate medical attention, but they can also take months or years to heal from. In extreme cases, the victim never heals from their injuries. Without being able to go back to work and needing acute medical care, their damages are usually high.
The insurance company is more likely to fight back the higher the settlement is. They will scrutinize your evidence and anything you say to put blame on you and reduce what they have to pay. The attorneys at Fasig | Brooks have built their practice by developing winning legal strategies for their clients. While you may think you can handle your case on your own, hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer is more than worth it as they have the skills and knowledge to give you the best chance at financial recovery.
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Lawyers Help You Gather Evidence
Everyone knows that evidence is necessary for a lawsuit, but presenting evidence is not as simple as it is in movies or TV shows. Not all evidence can be used in personal injury cases, like evidence obtained illegally or secondhand. An attorney knows what evidence is needed and knows where to find it. They can gather evidence including your medical records, security camera footage of the incident, and witness testimony.
Attorneys Have Access to Expert Witnesses
There is another resource that attorneys have that most people don’t, and that is their network of expert witnesses. These are individuals who are considered authorities in their field and can interpret and explain complex evidence in a straightforward manner to the judge and jury.
Let’s say someone alleges that a vehicle’s faulty design caused their accident. An engineer may serve as an expert witness and provide supportive testimony to help the case and defend this argument.
An Attorney Has Negotiation Skills
Economic damages in a motorcycle accident include all of your medical expenses, your lost wages, future lost earning potential, the cost to replace or repair your motorcycle, and other out-of-pocket costs related to the accident. Economic damages are more straightforward to calculate. They are proven based on your bills, receipt, invoices, and other financial documents.
When the insurance company argues that they won’t pay for one of your expenses, your personal injury attorney can negotiate using the eivdence they’ve collected.
Motorcycle accident victims may grapple with emotional distress, mental anguish, and anxiety. There are plenty of ways to demonstrate these kinds of losses, even though they are subjective. Family members can testify and say how they have witnessed a change in you since the accident. You can also provide records from a therapist or psychiatrist you have seen. Common signs of emotional distress after an accident include mood swings, loss of appetite, confusion, sleepiness or inability to sleep, lack of concentration, and depression.
It’s Free to Learn More
Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations to injury victims, so there’s no financial risk in reaching out today. In fact, you may end up getting a much larger settlement than if you didn’t hire an attorney.